Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Summer Sparkles® Baby's Breath: White Froth for Lavender Beds
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Summer Sparkles® baby's breath is a compact perennial gypsophila that stays neat and full instead of flopping open in the middle. From late spring through midsummer, its dense, rounded dome is smothered in tiny semi-double white flowers, about a quarter inch across, carried by the hundreds on thin, wiry stems.
At peak it looks like a solid, misty white mound, which is exactly what a bed of purple lavender spikes is asking for.
Summer Sparkles at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Gypsophila Summer Sparkles® |
| Flowers | Tiny semi-double white, lightly sweet scented |
| Foliage | Narrow, gray-green |
| Size | 23 to 27 inches tall, 30 to 40 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early June, peaks late June, repeat blooms after shearing |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Deer | Resistant |
One of lavender's true bedmates
Many companions on our list need their own bed. Not this one. Baby's breath likes the same full sun, lean soil and sharp drainage as lavender, and it dislikes wet feet, especially in winter, for the same reasons. It also prefers neutral to alkaline soil, which suits lavender fine.
Visually, the pairing is classic. The white froth softens lavender's stiff spikes and makes the purple look brighter. Bloom timing overlaps nicely, with Summer Sparkles peaking in late June as lavender comes into color. Tuck plants between lavender groups or along the front edge, leaving room for its 30 to 40 inch spread. Plan the drift in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Soil: sandy or gravelly and well drained. Wet winter soil is the main risk.
- Water: drought tolerant once established; water only while it settles in.
- Rebloom: shear off the first flush of spent flowers to encourage another round.
- Placement: plant it where you want it for good. Like most baby's breath, it resents being moved.
- Winter: very hardy in Michigan. Avoid heavy mulch over the crown.
Watch for Botrytis blight and stem or crown rot in wet conditions, the same troubles lavender faces in a soggy year.
The bouquet maker's pair
Summer Sparkles rates excellent both as a cut flower and dried. Cut sprays when most of the flowers are open, then use them fresh or hang them upside down in a dry, shaded place. Dried baby's breath and dried lavender together make a simple bundle or wreath that lasts for months. The Cut Flower Planner has more ideas.
Plug trays or bare root
Summer Sparkles is offered as a 72-cell plug tray and as a bare root plant. See each product page for current availability, or the Wholesale Hub for tray and bare root orders.
Frequently asked questions
Does it flop like old-fashioned baby's breath?
No. It was selected for a compact, uniform, mounding habit that stays full all season.
Is it fragrant?
Lightly. The flowers carry a mild, sweet scent.
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